domestic crises of the 1960’s and 1970’s kennedy through nixon
TRANSCRIPT
DOMESTIC CRISES OF THE 1960’S AND 1970’S
Kennedy through Nixon
Election of 1960
Southern vote crucial—Kennedy carries 8 southern states (see text—1023)
Traditional strong holds emerging for respective parties.
New Frontier
Tax cuts—1963 Manpower Development and Training
Act Area Redevelopment Act An unfinished agenda in poverty and
Civil Rights
Assassination
11.22.63 Theories? Warren commission
Two primary goals of the Great Society
"end poverty and racial injustice."
Johnson’s “true” legacy.
"unconditional war on poverty"
Johnson as a former teacher had seen the attack of poverty on students and children, he was determined to address that problem.
The War on Poverty began with a $1 billion appropriation in 1964 and spent another $2 billion in the following two years.
Success: 1029
Johnson Treatment:
Tremendous Success: Legislation
The Johnson administration submitted eighty-seven bills to Congress, and Johnson signed eighty-four, or 96%, arguably the most successful legislative agenda in American history.
Success measured in volume*
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The "Jim Crow" laws in the South were abolished, and it became illegal to compel segregation of the races in schools, housing, or hiring.
Limits of the Great Society
Incredible program, but success? Poverty dropped (see chart) from 20-13%,
but it had little to do with the Great Society. Rather realted to buildup of Vietnam.
Spending limited to 2 billion per year, not enough to achieve such success.
Vietnam War: 22 Billion in 1966, compared to 1.2 Billion for the war on Poverty.
Heart of Atlanta Motel Decision
Congress intervenes to stop discrimination in situations where “interstate” commerce can be used to enforce equality.
Liberal Revolution in the Courts
Writ of Certiatori and the power to legislate from the bench?
Earl Warren Court
Key Cases of the Warren Court
Brown v. Board
Engel v. Vitale: prohibits prayer in school.
Abington v. Schemp: bans bible reading in the public schools.
New York Times v. Sullivan: “actual malice” principal in journalism. No libel for false stories unless…
Westberry v. Sander: one man=one vote (congressional apportionment)
Green v. CSB of Kent County: end segregation by assigning pupils on the basis of race.
Rights of the Accused
Gideon v. Wainwright: requires states to provide legal assistance for those can’t afford it.Miranda v. Arizona: requires police to administer a suspects rights prior to arrest.
Mapp v. Ohio: illegally siezed evidence invalid in court.
Escobedo v. Illinois: a suspect had the right to an attorney when being questioned by police.
Nixon and WatergateAnatomy of a scandal.
Victory in 72’
Why?
• “King Richard”• Views on Power• Previous elections
Woodward and Bernstein stay on the case
• Pentagon Papers controversy• Nixon begins denials “I can say
categorically that no one on the White staff, no one in this administration was involved in this very bizarre incident”
• Watergate burglars plead guilty• Plumbers crack…
• It was learned that• FBI destroyed documents in the case• White house knew of sums paid to the
burglars• Agents of Nixon had burglarized Ellsberg’s
psychiatrist• Creep disrupted campaign of 1972• Nixon used wiretaps extensively and
illegaly
The Aftermath
• Nixon tried to cover all of this up and lied about it.
• Nixon denied evidence• Special prosecutors and grand jury• Nixon fires the prosecutors that were hired to
look into Watergate accusations.• “I am not a crook”• Revealing tapes• Nixon resigns
• August 8, 1974: Richard Nixon becomes the first U.S. president to resign. Vice President Gerald R. Ford assumes the country's highest office. He will later pardon Nixon of all charges related to the Watergate case.
Pardon me?
Pardon me?